A review by legrantguignol
Maigret and the Dead Girl by Georges Simenon

4.0

An excellent addition to the collection. As Maigret remarks to himself, the entire focus of the case is on the unknown deal girl found a blue dress, rather than her killers. Something of a meditation, or at least a recognition, of the lonely souls lost in a big city, in this case mostly women, old and young. The case evolves methodically, which each chapter introducing a slightly clearer picture of the girl. Lognon plays an important role in this one—will need to compare with his later appearances. And what is “Inspector Hard-Done-By” in French? Only downside is that it’s too short (and a bit driven by chance in the end).